Another thing that I found cool in Korea was this:

Can you figure out what it is? . . .

—tjmHolden

Where I come from, I never see this:

Japan or America—even in Europe where I’ve spent considerable time—cars don’t take one another on, in this way:

Something I hadn’t expected from Korea: a free-for-all, whoever comes first, however they can get in that space, fit their frame in, they’re welcome to it.

Don’t fuss over turning around; just wedge yourself in, exit, key the lock, get on with your business.

Reminding me of one of peripatacity‘s basic rules: never carry expectations when you travel.

—tjmHolden

Walking along the edge of the city, you stumble upon a quiescent river, nestled within a squat ravine. And bisecting the grey waters of the interior, a line of dots.

Two lines, in fact, enabling figures to pass in opposing directions.

And despite the danger of walking across precarious squares set in water, figures frequently pass from one side to the next. Saving time. Shaving kilometers off their journey from one end of town to another. Taking their chances with nature, with life.

—tjmHolden

Walking around the streets of Daejeon recently, I was struck by this promotional still.

It was outside a motel, and, judging from how TV and movie stills adorned nearly every stay-for-pay in the neighborhood, I interpreted this as a strategy for advertising the paid channels featured in this particular establishment.

The reason I took the photo, however, was not to document the local strategy for scoring motel occupancy; rather, it was due to the content in this particular still. A man, a woman, an apple . . . a knowing wink. Hm . . . why does this combination ring a bell?

—tjmHolden

If you don’t believe me, watch this.

—tjmHolden

Dear All,

It’s been a long time since I’ve written home. Sorry. It’s on account of the two manuscripts that have kept me scratching my head every waking hour for the last ten months. But they are both at the point where I can get them out to publishers; hence, I have begun to hear strains of the road’s siren call, beckoning, once more.

Today I’m holed up in a hotel somewhere in South Korea and so, thought I’d catch you up. Even though it is a two hour flight into Incheon from my abode, one country over, it took me about twelve hours to get from my apartment in Sendai, over to Daejeon, which is where I’m sitting now. For those of you who haven’t traveled here—do! it’s still all good—but just so that you know: the airport in Incheon is a one hour limo ride outside Seoul; and Daejeon—known as South Korea’s Tech City—is another hour by train to the south. So if you are coming this way, be prepared for some seat time.